Housebuying etiquette

Kiramanic

I hope it's ok to post this here, since it's not strictly money saving, but I've been reading these forums for a while and know there are people here with the experience to help me.

Myself and my fiance are looking into buying our first home. We're fine on the legal side, mortgage stuff, everything like that but we're about to view the first place and it's extremely scary. We're worried we'll somehow do it wrong!

I have a few questions that will seem really obvious to you guys but with zero experience we really need to know.

First of all, when we arrange the viewing is it or is it not ok to ask about things like other offers/viewings to get an idea of how popular the property has been so far? If etiquette allows this, is the agent likely to exaggerate the numbers anyway to pressure us?

The asking price is...optimistic...so we're planning to start offers low if in fact we do decide we like it. While I know this is common practise, if our first offer is rejected is there an unspoken limit of further offers we should be making before leaving it? By the time we got to the 5th offer would people be pulling their hair out thinking "they should have given up by now, they just look desperate!".

Is it considered rude to ask the agent to give us some time alone during the viewing? Ideally we'd prefer to have a look around on our own first to get a gut reaction with no interference, then deal with the agent.

Is it common to get loft access during a viewing or does that have to wait until the official inspection?

Thankyou to anyone patient enough to answer these newbie questions, it'll really put our minds at ease

Plans_all_plans

I would always ask about interest/offers on the houses. The agent may lie but just push them a bit by asking how many other people have looked round exactly/have there been any firm offers?

I dont think there's a limit to how many offers you can make, but I would be reckoning on about 3. Decide on your ceiling price before you make your first offer though. e.g. our home was on market at 110k, our ceiling price was 100k. The first offer we put in was 92.5, then we upped it to 95k. The agent said they wouldn't accept less than 100k and he was pressuring me hard to up the offer to 100k. I said final offer 96.5k and we got it for that. We would have gone to 100k (so strictly we'd have made 4 offers by that time) but we felt they'd accept less as it's a buyers market. You'll know if there's been much interest on your second viewing in my opinion, as you'll get a vibe of how keen to sell they are.

I wouldn't make more than 4 offers max though cos the seller will think you'll just keep upping your offers so they'll reject whatever you offer them in the hope of getting more!

You can def ask the agent to leave you alone during the viewing. You can ask to see loft space, but not all will have access to the loft, so you might not get to see that at all!

ETA: Oh and also dont be too hung up on etiquette: you'll be spending a fortune on the house, so just ask whatever you want to know and tough luck if it's not "the done thing," the agent will have forgotten you even asked, but you'll be sat at home wanting answers, so if it pops into your head just ask!

Good luck

Kiramanic

I feel calmer already, thankyou!

sturdygirl21

Hi,

I've just gone through this process and don't envy you I have to say!! Firstly, as said before, forget etiquette! Obviously be polite, but don't be afraid to ask q's. We asked how long it's been on the market for, many viewings, any offers, any other viewings booked, why is the vendor moving, have they found anything themselves (if applicable). The vendors were there at our viewings (something I find annoying on a first view, but on a 2nd can be good as you can ask them what the neighbours are like and be more specific). And we had a good old nosy around. It took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I'd be spending X amount of money on a house that we'd probably only see 2-3 times and spend maybe an hour in - you have to make sure it's the right decision.
the whole offer making thing I hate - I thought we'd been played, but ultimately we are happy with the decision. You absolutely have to have a max amount that you would go to for that particular house. If you feel its worth it and they reject all lower offers, then accept that you'll have to go to that price. If they want more, walk away - something better will come along.

Try and enjoy the process, and good luck!!

twirlypinky

It all depends on whether the vendors or the agent shows you round really. I would just ask whatever pops into my head. This is probably the biggest purchase you'll ever make, yet people spend more time trying on a pair of shoes!